It is of course a pleasure to be in your presence again. I know there’s a litany of activities and transitions occurring now that the sun and the heat have arrived. This is all the more reason why I’d like to take the opportunity to reflect on a very important topic. Let’s contemplate, just for a minute, the importance of our foundation, our families. For me and most, family is the cornerstone, foundation, support and Saving Grace, if we are fortunate.

So, while we immerse ourselves in summer festivities, travels, dreams and plans… consider your impact on and within your family. Consider if you have given enough, given graciously, given genuinely, given fairly and/or given too much. Think more about the important, memorable and positive and comforting gifts that we have the ability to offer each other as family. However I urge you to proceed honestly and openly for this is no small feat. How we give and receive within our families is pivotal to our health and well-being. Our ability to give and receive with love of and for life should always be honored. The considerations below may help to encourage, inspire and support your family as we all experience change, growth during moments of uncertainty!

First, Second and Last Family Commandments

• Be concerned about the existence and safety of your family members.
• Speak and guide them with truth and compassion and try to do no harm.
• Understand that none of us are perfect; we are all human and subject to err.
• Treat family as humans, it’s the only true form of equality regardless of hierarchy or status.
• Try not to use superiority as a means to preserve yourself or your motives.
• Be and do your very best; it makes it so much easier for the rest.
• Try to be honest about pains, challenges, disappointments, etc., it only festers and eats away at your foundation. Seek resolution and progression through these incidents otherwise it’s futile.
• Don’t stifle yours or any other family members’ successes, achievements, interests and empowerment.
• Don’t unnecessarily use or take from your family; do as much as you can to meet your own need.
• Be not afraid of challenges, successes and even revolts; these all denote the need for change.
• Use your positive and negative experiences to teach, uplift, guide and sustain your family.
• Invest in your family, with time, love, care, positive energy and positive people. This does not always require money or materials.

Times are very harsh for a lot of us. They require us to be versatile, flexible and as such, as original as possible. So use resources that are available to help your families. Ask for help to avoid suffering, bitterness and feeling disempowered. Be realistic about your knowledge, awareness and contributions to the welfare of your family. Supervise and protect your families the best ways that you can and if you are uncertain of what family safety is…ask someone. Share your knowledge, understanding and patience. If these are not the important things to you and your family then what are? Our lives are being intricately woven into stories that reflect us as a family whether it be in our homes, at our jobs or in society and I for one am intent on positively contributing to my family and having my say.

To you, I say this in Love of Life.

“If life is to be sustained hope must remain, even where confidence is wounded, trust impaired.” ~ Erik H. Erikson